BREAKING: Court rejects 10 out of 13 witnesses presented by Peter Obi, LP

The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal declared it rejected 10 out of 13 witnesses presented by the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Gregory Peter Obi.

Justice Haruna Tsammani, who took over to deliver verdict on the substantive petition filed by Peter Obi and LP, said this on Wednesday, 6th of September, 2023.

Tsammani noted Obi called 13 witnesses, who testified as PW1 to PW13, noting that of the 13 witnesses, only three witnesses whose statements are on oath, were filed along with the petition.

The remaining thrashed 10 witnesses, the Justice said, were subpoenaed and their witness statements on oath were only filed after the hearing started in the court.

Tsammani held that by virtue of section 285 of the Nigerian constitution, section 137(7) of the Electoral Act 2022, and other provisions, every witness statement on oath must be filed along with the petition.

The judge noted that based on the Supreme Court authority, once the 21-day window for filing an election petition elapses, the content of the petition cannot be amended by the court.

The Justice stated further that no additional statement on oath can be filed after the close of the specified window since the respondents would not have the opportunity to respond.

Tsammani noted that the petitioners were aware of the legal provision relating to the filing of witness statements on oath, yet went ahead to present 10 witnesses without their witness statements on oath earlier filed with the petition.

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